The National tribune., 1887-07-14
BLIND PATTERSON.
Further Details or the Famous Pension Case.


| pension ever awarded to any soldier of the late
war. the SUN being Sl3, $50 90, and the recipient
| Francis Patterson, who served as q private in
| Co. G., i54th n. Y. Vols.
In 1868 Patterson filed his claim for pension,
alleging that he contracted disease Of the eyes
| while in the army, which disease resulted in
| total blindness The claim was pending many
years in the Adjudieating Division of the PEN
sion Bureau, aud during Col. Dudley's admin
| istration Of the Bureau il was placed in the
hands of a Special Examiner who reported
| favoTably and recommended its admissiOn. IL
was not admitted. however. but ordered for re-
examination, aud another Examiner entrusted
with the case, who reported il adversely and
/ recommended its rejection. The claim was
practically abandoned after its rejection, and
was not reopened until last year. when the
claimants attorney, A. b. Galatian, of Elmira.
| n. Y, filed what purported To be reliable and
material evidence.
Patterson's manner Of leaving the service
was somewhat doubtful and he was borne on
the records Of the War Department as a de-
| serter, and continued To be so borne until last
January. when the charge was removed, and
he WAS granted an honorable discharge The
removal of the charge of desertiOn by the War
| Department gave Patterson standing before
the Pension Bureau which he had never be-
fore enjoyed and also removed an insur-
mOnntable objection to granting him pension.
Four weeks ago the claim was allowed and
payment ordered through the Syracuse Pension
Agency. soon after its payment Gen. Black
WAS notified that fraud had been practiced and
perjury committed in connection with the
claim.
Immediately upon receipt Of this intelligence
Gen. Black ordered IA thorough investigation
of the matter. and IN less than two hours three
Special Examiners were hurrying to Elmira
and other points to carry out the Generals
| orders.
In order that no injustice might be done the
pensioner the General directed that the ale
CATION of PERJURY be first inquired into. and
II found true, 10 cause the arrest Of the per-
jurers, aud secure, if possible, the money
fraudulently obtained.
One of Patterson's most important witnesses
wSs Wilkes J. Miller, resident of Elmira aud
acomrade OF PattersOn's in the army. Miller
not only testified in the pension claim. but also
made strong affidavit, which was fled in the
War Department, aud enabled Patterson TO
have the charge of desertiOn against him re-
moved. Miller was seen by Special Exam
liner and made, in substance, the following
statement:
Some six years ago. at the Pennsylvania House.
was induced by Dr. X. n. Mills aud John Iaidaw
To make an affidavit that Blind Patterson had sore
eyes In the army. For making this affidavit
was 10 receive sl'o Al the same time and
place the same parties asked me To impersOuRte
another cOmradc and gu to some OF the surround
ing towns where was not known and 20 before
Justice Of the Peace and make the same All
davit. For this also ! To receive SIOO
refused TO make this affidavit Some time
in March last Mills and Laidlaw again came
10 and requested make another
affidavit, similar to the one made SIX years ago.
relative to PatiersOn's eyes. For this To
receive u 90 in case the pension secured.
made the affidavit under the above promise. now
sulrmnly swear aud testify that the said affidavit
was false IA every particular.
Miller also told the Special Examiner that he
stood across from the Second National Bank, IN
Elmifa, when DIR. Mills went and drew a large
roll of bills therefrOm. As soon as he came out,
he, Miller, approached him and asked If they
were going 10 do AS they agreed with him
Mills laughed in his face. aud with u majestic
waive Of his hand said, I'VE don't owe YOU
anything" and walked away
When Miller's confession reached Gen. Black
he ordered the arrest of Mills, Laidlaw aud
Patterson, and directed that Miller be kept
under surveillance. Search was made for the
trio in their old haunts but they had vanished
Mills was followed TO Williamsport, Pa. where
all trace of him was lost. Laidlaw was reported
to have gone TO meet Mills aud Patterson was
said To be concealed somewhere in Pennsylva-
MIA in company with his wife. Millss ante
cedenis were closely inquired into, and il was
learned that he was a native of Greene County,
Va section Of the country remote from rail
roads aud one suitable for a fugitive from just
ice
Special Examiner was sent TO Greene
County To recOnn0iter, and succeeded in lOcat-
ing the doctor at Stanuardsville. a small hamlet
IN the Blue Ridge, where he had been Joined
by Laidlaw the same day that the Examiner
made his appearance in the neighbOrhood. The
Examiner secured the aid of the Sheriff of the
County, and together they took Mills aud Laid
law into custO y aud brought them to Wash
ington, accompanied by Mils's wife, who was
also found at StanuardSyille
When the Mills Iaidiaw combination reached
Washington they were taken To Police head
quarters, where they were searched. In Mrs.
Alillss satchel was found $1,000 in gold coin,
aud concealed in her bosom were $3.50 in bills,
all OF which she acknowledged were part of
the proceeds Of the Patterson pension.
Patterson was traced from Elmira, N. Y, TO
South Wayerly, Pa, aud from the latter place
10 the Cutler House, in WashiutOn. ID. c., and
then 10 StannardsvIlle, Va, where he had gone
10 meet DIR. Mills, not knowing that the latter
had been in custody for day or two. FROM
Stannardsville Patterson traced to Cor
dOnsVIlle, on the Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad,
where lie was taken into custody 10 company
with young Mills, son OF the Doctor, and his
tPaiterson'sD wIie.
Like the other cO-cOnspirators the Patterson
family were brought to Washington. aud alter
some reluctance on Mrs. PattersOn's part were
searched. Upon the latter were found l.362.53,
which was taken possession Of by the Govern
meut officer.
Mr.. Mills also invested s305O in n mortgage
on the FISHER House, at Wellsburg n. Y,
which has been attached by the Government
aud made several other purchases. amounting
III the aggregate To about $1,000 which have
also fallen into the Governments hands. The
total loss to the Pension Bureau will not ex-
ceed Si22, if il reaches that amount.
On Wednesday last the prisoners were ac-
corded a hearing before u. 5. Commissioner
Hailet. Binghamton, n V, and held for trial
AT Buffalo, ~ Y, on September %. Mills and
Laidlaws bail was fixed at $1,000 each, aud
fattersOn's and Potter's at 5000 each. la de-
fault OF bail the prisoners were all removed to
the Erie County Jail toawalt trial. Potter was
arrested for making AN affidavit cOrruborating
that Of Mlllers. which ho. Potter. now says is
false. Hon. Daniel NJ. Lockwood. U. ). AttOr-
ney, represented the Government, aud Stanch-
field and Reynolds, of Elmira. appeared for tho
defendants.
Too much credit cannot be given Gen. Black
for his promptness in handling this gang. and
while lac is ever ready to aid all worthy claim
ants he Is very severe on evil dOers, aud has
determined 10 make such an example of Mills
and Laidlaw that will deter sensible people
from attempting to peEpetrate frauds on his
Bureau.
five Knew.
But we don't know. We sometimes criticise
our neighbor's short comings when we do not
know The disad uudar which ba suf-